Zack Snyder Gave Up Salary For HBO Max Version Of Justice League

When Zack Snyder’s Justice League arrives on HBO Max next month, it will have cost WarnerMedia additional expenses — but not in terms of a payday for Snyder. Snyder spoke with Vanity Fair for a new feature on the upcoming four-hour version of the film and revealed that he forewent a salary so that the company would shell out the money needed for reshoots and digital effects.

Snyder noted that the studio initially wanted him to release his version without the additional finances invested and said:

“I was like, ‘That’s a no, that’s a hard no…’ Here’s why. Three reasons: One, you get the internet off your back, which is probably your main reason for wanting to do this. Two, you get to feel vindicated for making things right, I guess, on some level. And then three, you get a shitty version of the movie that you can point at and go, ‘See? It’s not that good anyway. So maybe I was right.’ I was like, ‘No chance. I would rather just have the Snyder cut be a mythical unicorn for all time.’”

Snyder went on to say WarnerMedia relented, but that Snyder had to give up his salary to get the creative control he wanted, noting, “I’m not getting paid. I didn’t want to be beholden to anyone, and it allowed me to keep my negotiating powers with these people pretty strong.”

Snyder also said in the piece that he hasn’t seen the theatrical cut that was put together by Joss Whedon, which the site reports was 75% reshot from the footage Snyder had before he stepped away.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is set to release on March 18th on HBO Max.